New US government data shows a big shift in refugee admissions under Donald Trump 2.0, with nearly all recent arrivals coming from South Africa.
Refugee Processing Center revealed that since October 2025, which was the start of fiscal year 2026, a total of 4,499 refugees have been resettled in the United States, per the BBC. Of those, all but three were from South Africa. The three exceptions were from Afghanistan.
It's a major adjustment from the last full fiscal year under Joe Biden, when about 125,000 refugees were admitted from 85 different countries.
The shift follows a decision by Trump to halt most refugee admissions, including applicants from active war zones. At the same time, the administration introduced a policy giving priority to Afrikaners, a white minority group in South Africa, citing claims of persecution.
In announcing the policy, officials said priority would also be extended to “other victims of illegal or unjust discrimination in their respective homelands.” Trump has said the move is intended to strengthen national security and public safety.
The policy has drawn criticism from the South African government, which denies the characterization and has rejected claims that Afrikaners face systemic persecution. Officials in Pretoria have said assertions of “white genocide” lack credible evidence.
Tensions between Washington and South Africa have increased in recent months. In one instance, South Africa’s ambassador to the US, Ebrahim Rasool, was expelled after accusing Trump of “mobilizing a supremacism” and attempting to “project white victimhood as a dog whistle.”
During a May meeting at the White House, Trump raised concerns directly with Cyril Ramaphosa, stating that white farmers were being targeted and describing the situation as “genocide.” Ramaphosa rejected the claim.
John Steenhuisen, leader of the Democratic Alliance, also addressed the issue, telling Trump: “Certainly, the majority of South Africa's commercial and smallholder farmers really do want to stay in South Africa and make it work.”
South African officials later pointed to an open letter signed by members of the Afrikaner community rejecting the persecution narrative, with some calling the US relocation policy discriminatory.
The first group of 68 South African refugees arrived in the US in May last year. Arrivals increased significantly in early 2026, with 2,848 people entering in February and March alone. The largest number of resettled individuals, 543, are currently living in Texas.
Refugee Processing Center revealed that since October 2025, which was the start of fiscal year 2026, a total of 4,499 refugees have been resettled in the United States, per the BBC. Of those, all but three were from South Africa. The three exceptions were from Afghanistan.
It's a major adjustment from the last full fiscal year under Joe Biden, when about 125,000 refugees were admitted from 85 different countries.
The shift follows a decision by Trump to halt most refugee admissions, including applicants from active war zones. At the same time, the administration introduced a policy giving priority to Afrikaners, a white minority group in South Africa, citing claims of persecution.
In announcing the policy, officials said priority would also be extended to “other victims of illegal or unjust discrimination in their respective homelands.” Trump has said the move is intended to strengthen national security and public safety.
The policy has drawn criticism from the South African government, which denies the characterization and has rejected claims that Afrikaners face systemic persecution. Officials in Pretoria have said assertions of “white genocide” lack credible evidence.
Tensions between Washington and South Africa have increased in recent months. In one instance, South Africa’s ambassador to the US, Ebrahim Rasool, was expelled after accusing Trump of “mobilizing a supremacism” and attempting to “project white victimhood as a dog whistle.”
During a May meeting at the White House, Trump raised concerns directly with Cyril Ramaphosa, stating that white farmers were being targeted and describing the situation as “genocide.” Ramaphosa rejected the claim.
John Steenhuisen, leader of the Democratic Alliance, also addressed the issue, telling Trump: “Certainly, the majority of South Africa's commercial and smallholder farmers really do want to stay in South Africa and make it work.”
South African officials later pointed to an open letter signed by members of the Afrikaner community rejecting the persecution narrative, with some calling the US relocation policy discriminatory.
The first group of 68 South African refugees arrived in the US in May last year. Arrivals increased significantly in early 2026, with 2,848 people entering in February and March alone. The largest number of resettled individuals, 543, are currently living in Texas.
